Out of high school, Calum wasn’t sure what career path to take. He completed several courses in computer sciences but knew it wasn’t a good fit.
“I originally wanted to be an author, writing fantasy or science fiction novels since I’m an avid reader of those genres. I figured that Journalism would fit my skill set and would have some valuable real-world applications even if I didn’t originally plan on pursuing a career as a journalist,” said Calum.
Like many future students, he researched the program before applying by turning to social media to ask real graduates about their experience. The consensus was that although challenging, people enjoyed the program.
Calum learned that students from this program gained more than just reporting, writing and researching skills. Graduates obtained a variety of multimedia skills that opened doors to content creation jobs. With media evolving so quickly, Calum saw the value of learning the skills to transform a single piece of media into multiple pieces of content.
“The most recent project that I worked on with some classmates was covering a Day of Truth and Reconciliation event at a local Hamilton metal bar. We planned out what footage we needed, what questions to ask, who to interview and when we wanted to do it, all on our own. The resulting print, radio, and television stories we made from the event were entirely our creations. Not only did we get to experience something new, we also got to make something unique.”
Calum noted the sense of comradery amongst the journalism students and how important it is to make those connections. He found it especially important to find a few peers he trusted for larger group work and presentations.
Having a dedicated lab space, the J-Lab, helped him generate these connections organically. "The J-Lab has been one of my favourite spaces. It makes me feel like I’m growing as a student to have an area that is just for us instead of a generic classroom like in high school.”
Making these connections in college is important for success both during school and after graduation.
“The journalism program makes me feel like I belong here. The professors who’ve taught me so far have been instrumental in both my growth as a student and my interest in the program.”
